In this episode of Beating Sisyphus, we sit down with Lourdes Casanova, Director of the Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets at Cornell University, to explore how developing nations are breaking the cycle of economic instability.

From "digital leapfrogging" in finance to the shifting dynamics of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Lourdes explains why countries like Brazil and India are bypassing traditional Western infrastructure to build something entirely new. We also dive into the critical difference between Greenfield investment and M&A, and why the next 25 years could mark the resurgence of Latin America.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the entities they represent.
#emergingmarkets #lourdescasanova #digitalpayments #fdi #economics #latinamerica #brazil #upi #fintech #globaltrade #BeatingSisyphus

TIMESTAMPS:
(0:00) Intro: What is "Beating Sisyphus"?
(1:27) Lourdes Casanova’s Journey & The Mission
(3:13) 15 Years of the Emerging Markets Institute
(6:50) The "Golden Age" of the Global South (Last 25 Years)
(8:50) Digital Leapfrogging: Skipping the Credit Card Era
(9:45) Payment Models Compared: China, Kenya, India & Brazil
(13:28) How Protectionism Drives South-South Trade
(15:20) FDI Explained: Why Nations Prefer Greenfield over M&A
(19:34) The Impact of M&A on Local Innovation
(22:33) Future Outlook: Can Brazil Escape the Middle-Income Trap?